Coruscation

MSNBC is using search engine marketing, buying keywords on Google, like
"viral videos." Computer users searching for articles with such words will
see ads alongside their search results with links to MSNBC.com.

"We want to find out something we haven't known before," said Frank
Radice, senior vice president for the East Coast office of the NBC Agency,
the internal unit that works on behalf of networks like MSNBC, NBC and
Sci Fi Channel. "Can we drive traffic from the Internet to the cable channel?"

Example (2010 December): tow truck in Brooklyn snow.

Val Nichols, vice president for the creative services group at MSNBC,
estimated the campaign would get 114 million viewings in total.

Among the 800 blogs that will run the ads are Adrants, Althouse,
Curbed, Daily Kos, Gothamist, IndieWire, Largehearted Boy, Talking
Points Memo and TV Newser. Buying ads on 800 blogs is a major
commitment to that fledgling medium. Budget Rent A Car bought
ads last month on 177 blogs, and Audi bought ads this summer on 286.